Malignant and Non-malignant Atypical Circulating Cell in Cancer: Their Heterogeneity and Plasticity

Dear Colleagues,

Solid tumors induce the presence of atypical cell types in the blood circulation. The ease of sampling these atypical circulating cells, although counterbalanced by their scarceness, holds the potential to help us better understand tumor evolution and drug resistance.

The most-described atypical circulating cells in cancers are called circulating tumor cells (CTCs). They can potentially generate distant metastasis, and many studies demonstrate their role in predicting clinical outcomes. The initial view that CTCs are defined by their epithelial phenotype has been challenged by the discovery that CTCs are a heterogeneous cell population characterized by plasticity and can also include cells that have lost some of their epithelial traits. Moreover, reports indicate that many other atypical circulating cells can be found in the blood of cancer patients, and, despite not being of epithelial origin and malignant, can play an important role in metastasis and hold strong prognostic value.

This Special Issue will focus on atypical circulating cells—of a malignant origin or not—found in the blood of cancer patients, and how their heterogeneity can provide us with a better understanding of tumor behavior. The aim of this Special Issue is to provide insights into the physical, biological, and chemical cues that generate this heterogeneity and trigger cell plasticity/reprogramming, such as adjustment to stressful conditions or changes favoring tumor progression.

We look forward to your contribution to this Special Issue.

Dr. Emilie Mamessier-Birnbaum
Dr. Claire Acquaviva
Guest Editors

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